A Ramadan guide for single Muslims

By Sound Vision Staff writer

For most Muslims, Ramadan is family time. You get up together, eat
Iftar together, pray together, etc. But what if you don't have your
family near you?

Waking up in a lonely apartment and eating food you've sometimes burnt
in an effort to catch Suhur in time are some of the realities of being
a single Muslim in Ramadan. But there are ways to make Ramadan special
when you're on your own. Here are a couple of ideas. Please feel free
to post yours at the bottom of this article.

1. Establish a Suhur telephone tree

Get a couple of friends together and establish a telephone
tree to wake each other up for Suhur. Establish a time to call and
a schedule of who will call whom. Make it a little exciting by adding
some funny phrases every week that will really wake everyone up (e.g.
"ASSALAMU ALIAKUM" This is the Suhur Sister/Bellowing Brother
calling. Rise and shine y'all for some morning grubÓ).

2. Invite people over for Iftar

Even if even you couldn't eat the food the last time you cooked,
invite people over for Iftar. Make it a potluck, order pizza or if you
can afford it, get it catered. The food isn't the thing. The blessing
is in the company, and you'll be rewarded for feeding everyone. Make
sure to especially invite those who are away from their families.

3. Attend prayers at the local mosque/MSA

Even if the Imam's recitation isn't the best and the behavior of other
Muslims can be more than annoying, try to attend Tarawih prayers organized
by your local mosque or your Muslim Students' Association (MSA). While
praying alone in peace and quiet is great, praying shoulder-to-shoulder
with other Muslims with whom you have nothing in common except your
faith is a unique and uplifting experience.

4. Get involved in community programs

It may seem hard to squeeze in time for anything else in Ramadan, but
try, at least once, to do some volunteer work. Cook a meal for those
who attend the MSA Iftar; volunteer for a day at a soup kitchen; help
make or distribute flyers for a Ramadan program; make Ramadan Mubarak
loot bags of candy for the kids at your local mosque. The possibilities
are numerous. The point is to give to others so you can get back what's
priceless.

5. Keep the Quran playing when you are alone at home

It's often tempting to keep the TV or radio on when we're alone at
home to avoid the silence. This Ramadan, find a CD
or cassette of a Quran reciter you like and play it during those
moments when you want to fill your place with some sound. Choose selections
you'd like to memorize, like the 30th part of the Quran.

6. Eat properly- don't resort to burnt toast and egg

Not eating Suhur and Iftar properly will make you crabby, irritated
and sick (as opposed to healthy, wealthy and wise). Establish a personal
Ramadan meal plan. Choose healthy, easy-to-make recipes so you're not
scrambling at the last minute for something to eat.

7. Keep in touch with family and friends back home

Send Ramadan e-cards, thoughts, reflections, questions, etc. via phone
or email to family and friends. Keep in contact at least once a week
and share three Ramadan-related things you've done in the last ten days
of Ramadan.

8. Take care of others

Know a new person at the school/office? Is a friend who lives nearby
having problems with their spouse? Or is someone you know having money
problems? This Ramadan, reach out with an attentive ear, a generous
hand, and most importantly, an open heart to others. Don't let these
small opportunities for gaining blessings slip you by.

9. Decorate your crib

Add some festivity to your spare surroundings by dressing the place
up with a Ramadan
banner, balloons
and streamers. Even after a rough day, coming home to a decorated
home is a boost to the spirits.

10. Pick and pursue Ramadan goals

Choose at least three goals to pursue this Ramadan. Whether it's curbing
a bad habit or starting a good one, doing this will help you focus and
work harder this month to change for the better. It takes 21 days to
establish a good habit. With Ramadan, we've got 30. Why not make the
best of it by picking up the good?

f t iddrisu, irun spain -
wrote on 12/6/2010 7:04:50 AM
Rating: Comment: its a very good may ALLAH give you something good

f t iddrisu, irun spain -
wrote on 12/6/2010 7:03:57 AM
Rating: Comment: its a very good may ALLAH give you something good

martha graham, southington, CT -
wrote on 8/10/2010 10:07:35 PM
Rating: Comment: I am a convert, totally alone and confused about how to do Ramadan. I will do my best. Inshallah I will find friends to socialize with. Loneliness is harder in Ramadan.

BAHIJA, FALLS CHURCH -
wrote on 8/10/2010 5:00:38 PM
Rating: Comment: Assalamou alaikoum
Thanks brother for this great idea, i am a single muslim these tips really help.

Mannaan, Philadelphia -
wrote on 9/23/2005 6:36:00 AM
Rating: Comment: as stated above it was great, very helpful.
I will pass this on. I am doing a lecture this week and I will certainly use some of this information. Thank you

faridah, uganda East Africa -
wrote on 9/21/2005 5:55:57 AM
Rating: Comment: very nice article
i suggest u send us so dua's that are very relevant in our daily livies and may be special duas in Ramathan
Salaam alaikum

Randa, Augusta -
wrote on 9/21/2005 1:10:57 AM
Rating: Comment: THis was helpful...The ten things listed can help keep your spirits up during Ramadan.

UmmMamou, Kuala Lumpur -
wrote on 9/20/2005 9:56:09 PM
Rating: Comment: This list is appreciated as people tend to forget those of us who don't have an immediate family of our own to observe this time with. I think the list is great however the use of the word "crib" is rather inappropriate for a text of this kind. Some would say that such use of slang is not even appropriate for a muslim to use at all. I will just say that it would have been more appropriate to say "home/office".

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